Diploma Exam Regulations
Article 1
A Diploma of The Hague Academy of International Law is awarded to those attendees who already possess a thorough knowledge of international law and pass the examination referred to below, in accordance with the conditions laid down by these Regulations.
Article 2
The examination for the Diploma is held at the end of each Session of Courses. For the purpose of these Regulations, each Session of Courses corresponds to three weeks of classes, during which a General Course and Special Courses are given. Directed Studies are organized during each Session of Courses with a view to assisting candidates in preparing for the Diploma examination.
Article 3
Only attendees taking part in one of the Directed Studies groups for the Session in which they are enrolled may apply to be included on the list of candidates for the Diploma examination held at the end of this Session.
No person may be listed as a candidate without satisfying both of the following conditions:
- The candidate must have university qualifications or professional experience that, in the opinion of the Curatorium, are sufficient with regard both to the level of studies and to the range of knowledge required for the Diploma;
- The candidate must also, through academic work or other activity, have demonstrated a specific knowledge of international law.
Article 4
Only those candidates appearing on the list drawn up for this purpose under the authority of the Curatorium of the Academy are admitted to sit for the Diploma examination.
Article 5
The examination consists of a written and an oral test in the working language preferred by the candidate (English or French). Only those candidates who are declared admissible by the Jury after the written test can sit the oral part of the examination.
Article 6
For the Summer Courses Sessions, the written test can cover any area of public international law or private international law, depending upon the Session followed by the candidate, and, for the Winter Courses Session, the written test can cover any area of the discipline chosen by the candidate (public international law or private international law). In all cases, the written test consists of the composition of a paper highlighting both theoretical as well as practical issues in a five-hour period.
Article 7
Candidates who are declared admissible by the Jury may sit the oral part of the examination. This test consists of questions covering any part of public international law or private international law, depending upon the period of the Summer Courses Session that the candidate is enrolled in, or, for the Winter Courses Session, upon the choice made by the candidate. It should be noted that candidates choosing to be examined in public international law must have a general knowledge of private international law, and vice versa. Questions may also relate to specific courses that have been taught during the Session.
Article 8
The Jury, in the exercise of its discretion, awards the diplomas on the basis of the results of the written and oral examination. It takes into account contributions by candidates during the directed studies. In exceptional cases it may award Diplomas with the distinction “cum laude”.
Candidates may apply to sit for the Diploma examination only once, and only at the end of the Session for which they registered. However, a candidate who has been declared by the Jury to be admissible for the oral test in accordance with Article 7, but who fails that test, may enter for the Diploma examination one additional time. In such a case, he or she must sit the whole examination again, including both the written and the oral test.
Article 9
The Jury established for each Session includes, unless impossible, the professor who has given the General Course, and must consist of at least four members. These may include the President and members of the Curatorium, the Secretary-General of the Academy, the professors who have taught courses during the course period, and any other qualified person whose participation may be considered useful for the proper conduct of the examinations. The Jury is presided over by the President, the Vice-President or the Secretary-General or, in their absence, by a member of the Curatorium. In the event of a tied vote, the President of the Jury shall have a casting vote.